Despite Walter Smith urging “Rangers fans to get fully behind the resolutions which last week were presented to the Board and shareholders”, which include sacking chief executive, Craig Mather, he added, “Craig Mather, as I have said before is doing a good job. It is unfortunate that this has happened but when change does come I hope he’ll be allowed to continue the job he has started”.
Smith is clearly close to, but not in tandem with, those who requested an Emergency General Meeting.
As well as support for the chief exec, on the manager, Smith says, “As for Alistair McCoist, it is important that we all appreciate that no other Rangers manager has had to work with poorer or more trying circumstances. It is my fervent hope that when the dust settles and Rangers have a clearer path and future he is given the chance to manage under conditions similar to those which were afforded his predecessors.”
Here we get to the crux of the problem. Rangers International face enormous financial challenges. With a half decent football manager, they would be able to win promotion from the third tier of Scottish football with a football budget of around £1m, or several times that of their nearest rivals. If, as the Herald suggested this week, there is not enough money to finish the season, the most immediate responsibility of the directors is to cut costs accordingly.
Cutting costs is not the reason anyone gets into football, and it is certainly not what Walter Smith knew in his time at the Rangers group of clubs, but at times it is absolutely necessary. The non-executive directors of Rangers International would serve their fans interests best by telling this unpalatable truth.
Failure to do this will pale in comparison to some other potential consequences. In setting his stall behind McCoist, Mather’s team building exercise and the EGM protagonists, Smith has almost ensured collapse if those demanding change cannot command the support of 51% of shareholders. To succeed, Paul Murray will need to demonstrate the leadership and deal management skills which were lacking a year ago.
Meanwhile, John Brown’s warning about Green turning Ibrox to dust hangs over the place, a bit like dust.
There is one overarching concern, however. Green is critical to fending off any impending action by Craig Whyte. His evidence will be necessary to explain how Sevco Scotland Ltd assumed the irrevocable entitlement of Sevco 5088 Ltd. Even with Green on-side, this looks like a challenge, but if the main protagonists in this action are separated from those who will have to defend any action, you suspect Whyte will be enormously encouraged.
When Whyte believed he was double-crossed he went nuclear. All Green would need to do is corroborate a sliver of Whyte’s evidence to bring Whyte’s legal challenge into sharp focus. For this reason, Green has to be part of the picture going forward. Demonising him is tempting, and may be deserved, but it’s self-defeating – and these people know all about self-defeating.
Section 111
Two weeks ago I said “place your bets” on what would happen after Celtic issued their “final warning” over a number ongoing issues in section 111. No one was in control of the situation, not Celtic, and not members the Green Brigade, who I believe had nothing to do with several of the issues.
Since then I’ve watched the debate. Some, like Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, attempted to inform on the debate, interviewing handicapped supporters and independent safety experts. Anticipating this day would come, I thought about interviewing the Council, but decided against, not wanting to draw them into making a public stance they would be unable to back down from.
Yesterday felt as inevitable as what’s going to happen next in Govan. Can the situation be rescued? Of course. Will it? Place your bets, people…
I’m not a regular newspaper buyer but the front page of one of today’s is a keeper. Celtic have a lateral movement issue, which dominates the front page, when the utter implosion at Ibrox is relegated to a side column. It’s a testament to our age. We will survive. I can’t say that with any certainty about the other lot.
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Tomthetim,
re. CQN AGM in Sean Ogs. Unfortunately, due to work commitments won’t be able to attend tomorrow evening. I was so looking forward to it and meeting up with all you guys. I was in last Wed, place was packed and buzzing, great atmosphere. If you are going to game on Sat let me know and maybe meet up for pint. Cathach
Bada
Met Jobo Baldie this afternoon ,he says to me ” you’re Bada Bing” …….. thought ‘he’s another fekn cheeky bassa fae EK.
I watched most of the Ludogorets game tonight, they were blessed.
Alan Kelly, from Ireland, whom I knew rather well, was the referee, defo not a homer, denied Partizan a deserved win imo.
If we progress, they would do.
Big Efe for the off? Lets cash in on a bomb scare.
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/08/06/premier-league-side-line-up-move-for-celtic-defender-efe-ambrose/?
Will you lot stop assuming we will get through!
Neganon
The alternative is to assume we’ll go out??
NA2
I didn’t, I said if we progress, so there…….
HH
Sevco contacts saying Terry Butcher has been offered a job on the sinking ship.
Celtic_First 22:09
Vladislav Bezborodov statistics from this year in Russian Premier League
12 games
5 penalties for home team, 1 for guests
26 yellow cards for home team, 49 for guests
3 red cards for home team, 1 for guests
75 yellow cards in 12 games!!! Be careful.
Morrissey
Uv been to 2 many hen nights imo
winning captains
What as……a cook ???
winning captains
Thought big Tel was ‘persona non grata’ doon Ipox way?
Right enough they mugs will swallow anything.
Neg ditto from me..
NegAnon2
22:24 on
6 August, 2013
Have you not watched “It will be Alright on the Night”?
FingerscrossedCSC
HH
CRC
I believe a new Chuckles interview on SevcoTV. Now!
!!Bada Bing!!
22:15 on
6 August, 2013
“@FrankyRobertson: Jim Traynor addressing the fans last night outside the bigot dome. http://t.co/weQJoSehIV” @disgruntledegg
Natknow..
Canny get it to work mate!
Can`t say I have much respect for the opinions of those who quite obviously cannot see the quality of Efe Ambrose. I did not feel we would miss Victor ( I still don`t) ; I did feel we would miss Hooper ( I still do); I certainly feel we would miss Efe. Thankfully, the “report” of interest from the EPl looks like unfounded guff.
Another point. When Smith said that McCoist`s had disadvantages that no Rangers` manager had had to face, he forgot to mention that the teams Sevco are competing against are of a much lower standard than the teams Oldco faced.
JJ
My mistake. He was the statistics are from 14 games, not 12.
Weefratm
I put him in the kids club with the Real Madrid strip, me was the most handsome one there ( takes after his mum)
Next day he had the Barca one on
Not so popular ,,,,,
So next it was a Spain one and he was back on the good books
HH
Brnobhiy
Zbyszek
22:29
Thank you. I knew you would know more.
Does he the wine cellar has been hoched . Did you see what I did there?
I hate it when we are confident – its tends to mean we struggle (as usual I will be watching tomorrow through my fingers).
gordybhoy
Hehehe brilliant. You can count chickens easier than you can count sheep. BUT you are bang on. :))
Weefra HH
Neg Anon,
why shouldnt I assume we will get through?
What did you see last week that makes you think they will knock us out?
To me they were nothing more than average SPFL fodder.
The very fact that they have to come out and have a go at us, means there will definitely be space for us to exploit and I am confident that In Sammi and Kris Commons especially we have the players to maximise the most of that space! Stokesy’s 2 goals on Satruday will have done his confidence no harm either.
Right now I am confident not only of going through, but that we will beat them tomorrow night.
Of course, ask me that 5 mins before KO tomorrow and I probably wont be as confident, but whilst i am still relatively calm and clear-headed, I honestly see them (OK it was based on a mere 90 mins last week) as being no better than the majority of our Scottish League opponents.
Do you feel any different?
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Night all.
THE EXILED TIM – No they have a decent cook apparently, can’t same the same for the football manager’s position!
Catach,
Sorry you can’t make it tomorrow night.
It would appear that the timing is out of sync with a few of the regulars holiday arrangements.
Noel will be there and he is always good company.
I am going to the game on Saturday, via Mc.Ginley’s 6.45 am bus.
My son is planning to smooze me into the hospitality howf, away from the Scallys, but,I hope, close to the Wags.
Not sure where, if anywhere, we will be having a pre match pint, but might manage one in Fairview on the way home.
brnobhoy
So it’s the Real top when he pays us an esteemed visit then? I can feel humbled at times. :)))
Weefra HH
Good evening Zbyszek
Been a while and I hoop your are well my friend?
Assuming tomorrow works out okay, are you preparing for the CQN Legia invasion if destiny dictates our path!
Just trying to sort my pass out now :-)
HH
CRC
zbyszek
I remember hearing a former England player saying they were always looking for a penalty when it was a Russian referee as they were known for giving fairly soft awards in their league games
Celtic through no problem! Mon the Hoops!
Weefra
What was it Gazza said when in New Zealand, and he was ordering breakfast?
“What, a million sheep in this country and no bacon?”
Weefratim
Think you may be getting the Spain one…
Talk him into the new Celtic one , and ask him what number he wants
Brnobhoy
Token – I know – I think we are better than them but…..
How many times have we been here?
The Token Tim
22:38 on
6 August, 2013
Predictions:
2-0 to the Hoops, Sammi to score and Cowiebhoy to celebrate Sammi’s goal ! :-)
HH
CRC
Celtic_First 22:34
Just googled for his name on Russian websites. You get best Russian referee. Roberto Rosetti who head of all Russian referees values Bezborodov very high. Bezborodov was the referee in 22 games last season there. His twenty games got very good, or top marks.
But if I were Neil Lennon I would warn the players about not necessery tackles.
Bezborodov most controversial decision from last season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcKpX3xHjdU#at=58
Neg Anon,
I know…….hence me saying dont ask me just before KO!
Like you I will be watching through the fingers and my heart rate will be sky high……until we score those 1st and 2nd goals
:-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
winning captains
I hope your info is wrong, the likes of TB would do a decent job for them, as would any other manager if the truth be told.
I wonder if Chuck will have the balls to get rid, wait for them to take him to a tribunal, go into admin, and they can sing for their pay off.
He would save himself a few bob in the short term, more in his hipper, decisions, decisions.